Author of OUTBACK LOVE a contemporary romance novel set in Australia, JETTING AWAY a short story prequel to OUTBACK LOVE, MOON OVER MADNESS a paranormal romantic comedy and BAYOU BLUES AND OTHER SORROWS a collection of short stories and poems about life and love. All are available online at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Apple, Sony, Diesel and Kobo. On Twitter @TeriHeyer

Wednesday, January 30, 2013

In Florida it's all about the Flowers

A first bloom on my tulip tree.

When Spanish explorer, Juan Ponce de Leon, discovered Florida in 1513 he gave it the name, La Florida, for a very good reason. Florida is all about the flowers, every shape, size and color you can imagine.

I first came to Florida thirty-one years ago this month and knew instantly that I had to stay. I got off the plane in Daytona Beach and fell in love with the balmy temp, sunny blue skies and fragrant flowers everywhere.

Azaleas in my yard.

Though I've moved away from Florida from time to time over the past years, I've always moved back. Although I have to admit the beaches are a big draw, I can't stay away from Florida's beautiful flowers. Even in the midst of winter, flowers bloom everywhere in Florida.

It's the end of January and my yard is abloom with azaleas of every shade, in addition to little white wildflowers that look like daisies. My tulip tree is just starting to bloom and my Easter Lilies will be gracing my yard in no time at all. Then I have an assortment of periwinkles, marigolds and other flowers I can't even name. And all this in the middle of winter.

More azaleas in my yard.

Florida is a huge state with a subtropical climate in the north and a tropical climate in the south. I live on the Panhandle which means azaleas, magnolias, jasmine, gardenias, camellias, wisteria, mimosa, more flowers and blooms than I can even begin to name.

Daisy-like wildflowers in my yard.

I have a passion for flowers, not cut floral bouquets, but flowers growing in my yard, in pots, around the neighborhood, in parks, well, everywhere. I particularly like driving through the older neighborhoods which tend to be a panopoly of blooms in a riot of colors all year round.

Now this is where I confess that if a book has flowers on the cover, or if some flower is in the title, well, I stop and take a closer look at that book. Consequently, I read and enjoy a lot of books with flower titles. For this reason, I've put together a list of flower fiction just for you.

Fiction with Flowers (in no particular order):

The Flame and the Flower by Kathleen E. Woodiwiss*Beach Roses by Jean StoneCaramel and Magnolias byTess ThompsonBlood Orchids (Lei Crime Series #1) by Toby Neal**Torch Ginger (Lei Crime Series #2) by Toby Neal**Black Jasmine (Lei Crime Series #3) by Toby Neal**The Rose Garden by Susanna Kearsley**Daisies in the Wind by Jill GregoryThe Blood Upon the Rose by Tim Vicary*Flowers in the Blood by Gay CouterReturn of the Rose by Theresa Ragan**The Women of Magnolia by Kate McCabeMagnolia Park by Kate McCabeRawhide and Roses by Maddie James**Flowers on Main (Chesapeake Shores) by Sherryl WoodsWhere Azaleas Bloom (Sweet Magnolias) by Sherryl WoodsBeneath the Honeysuckle Vine by Marcia Lynn McClure**Magnolia Moon (Callahan Brothers Trilogy) by JoAnn Ross*Winter of the Passion Flower (The de Vargas Family #1, Steampunk) by Annie SeatonHe Kissed Me Between the Geraniums and the Daisies by Janice SilkworthMagnolias, Moonlight and Murder (Elle Avery Mystery) by Sara RosettPrairie Rose (A Town Called Hope #1) by Catherine Palmer**The Orchid Keeper's Son by Barbara ArnoldPlease Don't Eat the Daisies by Jean Kerr*Millie's Rose by Donna SturgeonWild Orchids by Karen Robards*Paper Roses (Texas Dreams #1) by Amanda Cabot*Elly in Bloom by Colleen OakesThe Pink Rose by Alicia RobertsFlowers for Victoria by Sunni JeffersSleeping with Anemone (A Flower Shop Mystery) by Kate CollinsThe Flower Trilogy: Violet, Lily, Rose by Lauren RoyalSummer of Roses (Summer's Child) by LuAnne Rice*Magnolia Creek by Jill Marie LandisComing Up Roses by Catherine AndersonA Field of Poppies by Sharon SalaRoses in Moonlight by Lynn Kurland*A Garden in the Rain by Lynn Kurland*Staying at Daisy's byJill Mansell**Flowers from the Storm by Laura KinsaleYellow Rose Bride by Lori CopelandOrchids in Moonlight by Patricia Hagan**Flowers from the Heart by Louise ArmstrongSummer Rose by Elizabeth Sinclair**Blood on the Orchid (A Wolfgang Fenstemier Mystery) by R. Harris Harrison**Murder at the Azalea Festival (Wilmington Series) by Ellen Elizabeth HunterThe Iron Rose (Pirate Wolf Series) by Marsha CanhamDaisy's Back in Town by Rachel GibsonThe Scent of Jasmine (Edilean) by Jude DeverauxDeath in the Orchid Garden (Gardening Mysteries) by Ann RipleyMagnolia Dreams (Richmond ) by Virginia GaffneyThe Thorn (Rose Trilogy #1) by Beverly LewisBlack Rose (In the Garden Trilogy) by Nora RobertsPrincess Daisy by Judith KrantzFor the Roses by Julie GarwoodOrchid Blues (Holly Barker) by Stuart WoodsFlower Fables by Louisa May AlcottUnder the Lilacs by Louisa May AlcottDaisy Miller by Henry James*

* Books I've read and Loved
**Books TBR on my Kindles

Other Flower Books (not to be missed):

Language of Flowers by Kate GreenawayThe Power of Flower Colors by Rebecca Yaacov

As you can see from all the books listed above, I'm definitely drawn to books with flower titles. Hey, what can I say? I love flowers!

MOON OVER MADNESS by Teri Heyer

BAYOU BLUES AND OTHER SORROWS by Teri Heyer

Teri Heyer, Writer/Dreamer

I grew up in southern California where I enjoyed the beaches, mountains and desert. In my teens, I was actually a surfer girl, though I spent most of my time under the surf instead of on the board. I've been in love with books all my life and decided I wanted to be a writer all the way back in my grammar school days. I wrote my first short stories at around ten years of age. I've always been a dreamer and often got in trouble in school for daydreaming. What can I say? I still daydream every chance I get. Oh, I married a southern boy from Alabama and we've lived all over the country. Now that my husband is retired, we're living back in Florida to be near our daughter and young grandkids. This is a great place for a writer to live. I have two big dogs, Shani and Dude, who keep me company while I'm writing. I hope you enjoy reading my books. I have a lot more stories yet to write.